Delhi assembly passes GST bill (Lead)

New Delhi, May 31:  Delhi became the 12th state to get on the GST bandwagon, with the assembly passing the state GST bill on Wednesday.

The Bill, moved by Finance Minister Manish Sisodia, was passed unanimously.

"Delhi is the 12th assembly passing the GST bill. In principle, this bill is good for the traders. However, several traders have raised concerns over higher tax slab on different commodities and services. I will raise these concerns in the next GST council meeting on June 3," he said. 

Dubbing the bill as a biggest tax reform of independent India, Sisodia said that the
GST's focus should be public-centric and not officer-centric.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the bill as a big tax reform and also said that they support it in principle.

"I, myself, was an Income Tax Commissioner. I better understand that lower the tax rate, more will be the compliance. So we propose to have one tax slab of maximum 10 per cent instead of higher tax slabs of 18 and 28 per cent," he said. 

The Chief Minister also said that the assembly also passed a resolution moved by Karolbagh MLA Vishesh Ravi demanding a maximum slab of 10 percent.